City's first homicide victim was 'cool uncle'

PEORIA — Justin Thompson's roots ran deep in Peoria, leaving those who knew him in a state of disbelief one day after he became the city's first homicide victim of 2014.

"He knew a lot of people, and he had tons of friends," Gary East said of his uncle. "He could go anywhere, and everybody knew him."

Thompson, 30, was gunned down in the middle of the day Wednesday outside a Landmark Apartments building in the 500 block of West Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. He died in a hospital emergency room within a half hour, and three suspects were taken into custody at an adjacent building within the complex soon afterward.

Those men include two suspected members of the Zone 4 street gang: Duane P. Simmons, 21, and Denzell Gayton, 20. Simmons has been previously targeted by the city's anti-gun violence initiative Don't Shoot, and both have previous weapons and drug arrests.

Also apprehended was Orlando Mathews, 20, who also has previous weapons arrests and is on parole for a 2012 case involving felony weapon use.

All three men remain in custody at the Peoria County Jail awaiting formal charges and a bond hearing before a judge. They must be charged by Friday afternoon or released.

Police have said the incident that led to the shooting appeared to be drug-related. East said he and his family don't know all the details of the crime but believe Thompson may have been set up to be robbed.

"It doesn't make any sense," East, 25, said of his uncle's death. "Nobody can believe it."

East, who lives in California, and other members of the extended family around the country are making plans to return to Peoria for funeral services. Arrangements have not yet been made public.

In the meantime, the nephew clings to memories of Thompson as a person who was easy to get along with and who he tried to convince to move to the West Coast with other members of the family.

"He didn't want to leave the people he grew up with in Peoria," East said. "He was goofy. He was funny. He was the 'cool uncle.'"

East added: "There was never any drama with him, that's why everybody is just so shocked."

Matt Buedel can be reached at 686-3154 or mbuedel@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @JournoBuedel.